If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Is Your Dog Allowed on Seat at Vet, rude receptionist

Is your dog allowed to sit on seats at the vets with you. I have been going to the same vet for a few years now and my dogs have always sat next to me and nothing has ever been said until several months ago.

I was told by one of the staff who a vet called Mrs Cranky..."take your dog off the seat, we don't allow dogs on seats". I did offer to pay if my girl caused any damage but just got a dirty look. My GSD girl wasn't causing any trouble and over the next few months other people had their dogs on seats plus a cat carry case and nothing was said.

They put up these little blue signs "Seats are for people not dogs,no cat carry cases on seats either". Went there this week and saw people with dogs on the seats and nothing was said to them... these rules should apply to everyone not just a few. The seats are vinyl and there's plenty of them...maybe I should get them to check my fingernails in case I damage the seats too.

The staff are not as nice as they use to be...when you come in your asked...Name...What's you dog here for...Take a seat.
It's a shame because the vets are good...just the staff that need an attitude adjustment or a change of vet maybe.
Anyway has this ever happened to you at your vets and what did you do.

Last edited by Hyacinth; 12-10-2014 at 01:18 PM.
Reason: clarify title

Hi Dogman,
No, that has never happened to us, though we hadn't even thought of putting our dog up on the seats. I'm sure if we did the vets wouldn't mind, they're wooden seats, and old. However, I think it's just a sign that service has gone downhill at the vet you attend. It's fine if they don't want animals on seats, but like you said, the same rule should apply to all and there's no need to be rude. If that happened to us we would write a letter of complaint and if we did not receive a satisfactory reply we would change vets, even if that meant traveling to a different town. We are both very stubborn about things like good service, which is why we shop at Mitre 10 instead of Bunnings, for example. The truth of the matter is; some people just don't want your business, no matter how much they say they do. There are good vets everywhere, why should you be treated like crap?

Actually, come to think of it, we did put a cat in a cattery once and the owners washed its blanket - a big no no; and then wouldn't let us see the cat during visiting hours and were quite rude. We drove off in a huff and the owner literally chased us down on foot to try to explain, but we would have none of it. The next week, after we'd found another cattery with nice people, we took our cat out of the bad one and never looked back. Some people forget that cats and dogs come attached to people and it's the people that pay the bills. There is no excuse for bad service. Life's too short!

The vet is there for animals, priority. If they don't have pleasant staff they need to fix it. It is not a charity it is a business, it is similar for me as a school teacher. Rude front counter staff will negate all the hard work and expertise of those delivering the service.
I would find out who is the owner and address a letter to them and sandwich your complaint between compliments of past times when it was good and the skill of the vets. If they want a successful business they will address it as a matter of professionalism.

I will never let Hooch sit on seats because he is so prone to accidents, he will end up needing the vet just because of that.
Hooch should star in the video: Dumb Ways to Die - YouTube
Sounds like the service is not as good as it was, pity - I hate bad service. Maybe a letter to the practice owner would do the trick?

I've never even thought of putting the dogs on the seats at the vet, however i doubt my vet would mind at all if i tried. Then again, I doubt dodge would want to sit next to me anyway... maybe on my lap and Koda well i can't do his training as well if he is on the seat next to me rather than laying down at my feet.

I do think it is ridiculous that they wouldn't allow carry cages on the seat!! When Bubbles (my little rescue cat) was attacked by another cat and was in a lot of pain and shock i had her cage up on the seat next to me so that i could comfort her. She was so stressed about being in pain as well as the fact that she was back at the vet... (she is absolutely terrified of strangers). The fact that she could see me and was up at my level away from the small yapping dog that was desperately trying to get to her, comforted her so much!

I'd never thought of getting the dog on the seat either and I don't think I've ever seen anyone do it here either. But there is simply no excuse for rudeness and even less so in a customer service situation. I would complain by email or letter about their bad manners.

And no cat carriers on seats is just ridiculous. I don't like putting mine on the floor because they seem more vulnerable and I am always prepared for dogs suddenly rushing at them and scaring them.

And Farview, we have one of those receptionists at my daughter's school. In the 2 years she has been there, I have NEVER seen this woman smile! And she has spoken to me quite rudely when I questioned why they got me to pick up my daughter just because she complained about some vague and clearly made up symptoms.

Great advice...I will write a letter and you're right why should I be treated like crap. The staff are very rude...especially the manager Mrs Cranky who was the one who told me to take my dog off the seat months ago...that was the first time I'd met her in the 6 years I'd been going there...what great PR. When the signs went up...I said to the receptionist "I see you've put signs up" and she said "yes we've put them up just for you". Chloe is very Intelligent and knows how to open doors...she puts her paws on the handle and pushes down... the door opens.

The other day at the vets she tried to do the same thing and the receptionist said "don't let her do that she'll damage the door". I looked around at her and so did another client with total disbelief...I couldn't believe what I just heard...it's a steel door. I don't know why the staff are so rude and arrogant now...are they that stupid to thing people won't go elsewhere...most likely the don't care.

I would think that today with the Internet companies would offer a better service and not treat people like dirt...because if they don't the whole world would know about it...especially vets who rely on clients.

I think the next time you go there, if they say anything, I'd be asking to speak to the manager then and there to make a formal complaint. If you have been going there for 6+years they are likely to take you seriously. I'd ask to speak to someone immediately and hint at taking your business elsewhere should the behaviour continue.

If they don't want dogs on seats, I can understand that, simply because the seats are there for the people, not the dogs. However, if they have allowed it for so long perhaps they could show some courtesy with the new rule.

Devils Advocate here but why does your dog need to be on the seat in the first place?

Your vet would freak out if Mojo went there. First thing he does is jump up with his front paws on the counter and stands there chatting up all the ladies who work there. I dont know who drools more...him or the girls LOL.

Bugger em' mate ... find out who owns the place (usually the main vet) , let them know your pissed off and if they dont sort it ... ditch them for another vet.
The money we spend at vets,.. they should be giving us massages and cold beers while we wait.

I think the next time you go there, if they say anything, I'd be asking to speak to the manager then and there to make a formal complaint. If you have been going there for 6+years they are likely to take you seriously. I'd ask to speak to someone immediately and hint at taking your business elsewhere should the behaviour continue.

If they don't want dogs on seats, I can understand that, simply because the seats are there for the people, not the dogs. However, if they have allowed it for so long perhaps they could show some courtesy with the new rule.

Devils Advocate here but why does your dog need to be on the seat in the first place?

The manager's the one who told me to take her off the seat in the first place...so it's a waste of time complaining to her...I did speak to the vet who owns the place and he said some dogs jump all over the seats etc etc...so I don't think they care if I stay or go.

Why does my dog want to be on the seat...she likes to look out the window...just like my other GSD girl Tara did at the very same vets for years and nothing was ever said. At home Chloe sits on the lounge and looks out the window to see what's going on just like Tara did.
The funny thing is my GSD boy Rex now 11 yrs old never wanted to sit on the seat at the vets...but likes to sit on the lounge and look out the window at home. After all this I walked in one day and saw a fat lab sitting on a seat and nothing was said...so that says it all.